Painting Watercolor Washes - Creating Mood in a Painting

Here is a recent watercolor that I have completed of a foggy, grey day at the Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse located at the mouth of the Connecticut River in Long Island Sound. There is a small pond near Katherine Hepburn's old house in the Fenwick section of town that overlooks the lighthouse and that is what I have painted here in this watercolor.

In the watercolor class that I teach at Artisans Harbor in Saybrook , CT we have been practicing washes and the painting here I started with a nice grey wash of raw sienna first and then a mix of ultramaine blue and raw umber to create the moody background. This watercolor is all framed in a double off-white mat with a thin gold frame and can be viewed at Artisans Harbor on Main St. in Old Saybrook, CT or it can be shipped. The painting price is $250.

If you have any questions about the painting please send along an email.
Thanks, PJ

Latest Hand Painted Chair Design

In the works  - latest hand painted chair design. I have been working on this sunset painting of a dock with the Old Saybrook Lighthouse in the background. I will be adding an adirondack chair on the dock.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Handpainted Decorative Chair - 1st Design For Nautical Series

I am working on a series of 4 nautical scenes for my hand painted decorative chairs. This first chair is of the Saybrook Breakwater Light with two sailboats, catboats to be specific. This lighthouse is popular in the state of Connecticut and is offered as a license plate Save the Sound.

I have settled on a whitewash color for the chairs. It has a white wood grain effect that looks very beachy. I have used acrylic paint for the painting because it is very durable. Once I finish a chair I apply a coat of clear protective finish. After that the chair can be sat in! Yes, these chairs can be used everyday if you so desire. I have used this same paint for other projects and they have lasted for years, some are even outside!

I have this chair for sale at The Lyme Tree Women's Exchange in Old Lyme Center (next to Subway). You will find it in the window.

Check back for updates on the next decorative chair in this nautical theme series.

Thanks, P.J. Cook